Why another arts venue in Reno?

Study after study show the positive impact of the arts. And you can’t have the arts without arts venues. From higher grades and less crime to more tourism dollars and better workforce recruitment, the arts make a tremendous difference to our communities.

The Lear Theater can play in an integral role in bringing arts to the Truckee Meadows by providing a needed venue. The Lear Theater will fill a distinct gap in the mid-sized, technically appropriate facilities needs of the theater and arts community of northern Nevada. Between the 1500-seat Pioneer Theater and the Bruka Theater’s 100-seat venue, there are few reliable options for performing arts groups.

Filling a void.
Reno/Sparks Arts Venues (Seating Capacity)

Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 1,500
University of Nevada, Reno, Nightingale Concert Hall, 600
Masonic Temple Auditorium (4^th floor, in dire need of renovation), 535
Lear Theater, 299+ (exact number to be determined)
Nevada Museum of Art, Prim Theater, 180
National Automobile Museum auditorium, 150
First United Methodist Church (Fellowship Hall), 150
Gothic North Theater (storefront),  45-99
Brüka Theatre (former clothing store),  65-125
Sierra Arts Center (basement),  50

Arts make sense. And dollars.

America’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year, generating the following:

5.7 million full-time equivalent jobs
$104.2 billion in household income
$7.9 billion in local government tax revenues
$9.1 billion in state government tax revenues
$12.6 billion in federal income tax revenues

Attendance at arts events generates related commerce for local businesses such as restaurants, parking garages, hotels, and retail stores. An average spending of $27.79 per person, per event–in addition to the cost of admission.

Non-local attendees spend twice as much as local attendees ($40.19 vs. $19.53)

Arts & Economic Prosperity III. conducted by Americans for the Arts.